re·tic·u·late
ri-ˈti-kyə-lət 
-ˌlāt
1
: resembling a net or network
especially
: having veins, fibers, or lines crossing
a reticulate leaf
2
: being or involving evolutionary change dependent on genetic recombination involving diverse interbreeding populations
reticulately
adverb
re·tic·u·late
ri-ˈti-kyə-ˌlāt
reticulated; reticulating
: to divide, mark, or construct so as to form a network
municipalities that reticulate electricity to consumers
: to become reticulated
Did you know?
Though "reticulate" is used in many contexts, it finds particular use in the field of biology. "Reticulate" comes from the Latin word reticulum, meaning "small net." It first appeared in English in the mid-1600s and was used in connection with the study of plants even back then. Scientists use "reticulate" to describe a net-like formation of veins, fibers, or lines that crosses something. For example, a leaf with a pattern of veins that resembles a net would be called a "reticulate leaf."
Examples of reticulate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Conor Murray, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
The leaves had reticulate venation, a web-like pattern of interconnected veins.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Benji Jones, Vox, 21 May 2024
Folks in southern Oklahoma are currently on the lookout for a giant albino reticulated python that has been living for months near a trailer park.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023
The Giraffe Conservation Foundation lists reticulated giraffes as endangered.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2023
Kenya’s national parks and reserves cover just 8 percent of the country, and most big mammals—including almost all reticulated giraffes—live outside them.
—Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2020
The front wing is gray with black spots and the wings tips are reticulated black blocks outlined in gray.
—Beth Burger, Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati.com, 24 Jan. 2020
An autopsy found that Laura Hurst was killed Wednesday by an 8-foot reticulated python in a home that police said was filled with 140 snakes.
—Vic Ryckaert, Indianapolis Star, 1 Nov. 2019
The record for longest snake living in captivity is held by a 25-foot, 2-inch reticulated python named Medusa, who is owned by Full Moon Productions Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., according to the Guinness World Records website.
—Fox News, 17 July 2019
Maybe not this one, but reticulated pythons are considered the snake most likely to eat a human, the museum says.
—Christina Maxouris, CNN, 16 July 2019
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Thelma, a reticulate python, gave birth through parthenogenesis in 2014, the first time this behavior had been documented in its species.
—Conor Murray, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2024
The leaves had reticulate venation, a web-like pattern of interconnected veins.
—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 10 Nov. 2023
Verb
Finding the snakes is relatively easy, said Luna, who once caught a 17-foot reticulated python in front of her house.
—Benji Jones, Vox, 21 May 2024
Folks in southern Oklahoma are currently on the lookout for a giant albino reticulated python that has been living for months near a trailer park.
—Sage Marshall, Field & Stream, 4 Oct. 2023
The Giraffe Conservation Foundation lists reticulated giraffes as endangered.
—Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2023
Kenya’s national parks and reserves cover just 8 percent of the country, and most big mammals—including almost all reticulated giraffes—live outside them.
—Ed Yong, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2020
The front wing is gray with black spots and the wings tips are reticulated black blocks outlined in gray.
—Beth Burger, Columbus Dispatch, Cincinnati.com, 24 Jan. 2020
An autopsy found that Laura Hurst was killed Wednesday by an 8-foot reticulated python in a home that police said was filled with 140 snakes.
—Vic Ryckaert, Indianapolis Star, 1 Nov. 2019
The record for longest snake living in captivity is held by a 25-foot, 2-inch reticulated python named Medusa, who is owned by Full Moon Productions Inc. in Kansas City, Mo., according to the Guinness World Records website.
—Fox News, 17 July 2019
Maybe not this one, but reticulated pythons are considered the snake most likely to eat a human, the museum says.
—Christina Maxouris, CNN, 16 July 2019
Cite this Entry
“Reticulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reticulate. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share